JP5981362B2 - Image forming apparatus and image forming method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming method.

There is an image forming apparatus that forms an image using consumables such as a developer. If the consumables are used up in such an image forming apparatus, the user must replenish the consumables.
As a conventional technique for preventing the expendable supplies from being used up, there is a technique described in Patent Document 1. The technique described in Patent Document 1 changes the toner save rate so that the amount of toner used for printing matches the remaining amount of toner after the toner, which is a consumable item, reaches a predetermined remaining amount.

JP 2011-191525 A

However, the conventional technique is a technique of saving and using the toner so that the toner does not run out during printing when the toner reaches a predetermined remaining amount. For this reason, if printing that consumes a large amount of toner is performed after the toner reaches a predetermined remaining amount, the print quality may be significantly impaired.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to prevent the consumables from being used up before the user's expectations are satisfied while maintaining the quality.

An image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an image formation execution unit that forms an image on a medium using a developer, a developer amount management unit that calculates a remaining amount of the developer, and the image formation An image formation number management unit that calculates a cumulative value of the number of image formations that is the number of media on which the image is formed by the execution unit, and the medium on which the image is expected to be formed using the total amount of the developer An input unit that receives an input of the total expected image forming number, which is the total number of sheets, and increases as the remaining amount of the developer calculated by the developer amount management unit decreases, and by the developer amount management unit when the remaining amount of the calculated the developer becomes "0", the to match the total expected number of image formation, the remaining amount of the developer, the image must be formed the medium The number of periods An expected image formation number management unit for calculating the number of image formations, an expected image formation number calculated by the expected image formation number management unit, and a cumulative value of the image formation number calculated by the image formation number management unit A deviation rate management unit that calculates a deviation rate of the image, and the image formation execution unit, when the deviation rate calculated by the deviation rate management unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined first value, The use of the developer is saved.
An image forming apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention includes an image formation execution unit that forms an image on a medium using a developer, a developer amount management unit that calculates a usage amount of the developer, and the image formation An image formation number management unit that calculates a cumulative value of the number of image formations that is the number of media on which the image is formed by the execution unit, and the medium on which the image is expected to be formed using the total amount of the developer An input unit that receives an input of the total expected image forming number that is the total number of sheets, and increases as the usage amount of the developer calculated by the developer amount management unit increases, and by the developer amount management unit When the calculated usage amount of the developer reaches the total amount of the developer, the image should be formed in the usage amount of the developer so as to coincide with the total expected image forming number. Said An expected image formation number management unit for calculating an expected image formation number, which is the number of bodies, an expected image formation number calculated by the expected image formation number management unit, and an image formation number calculated by the image formation number management unit A deviation rate management unit that calculates a deviation rate between the accumulated value and the image formation execution unit, wherein the deviation rate calculated by the deviation rate management unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined first value. In this case, the use of the developer is saved.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to prevent a consumable item from being used up before a user's expectation is satisfied while maintaining quality.

2 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a printer according to Embodiments 1 and 3. FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of an expected printing number management unit in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a print data analysis unit in the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a deviation rate management unit in the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a toner save management unit in Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a print image creation unit in the first embodiment. 2 is a configuration diagram schematically illustrating a print execution unit according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a post-printing processing unit in Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a conversion table in the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing for setting a total expected number of printed sheets when toner is replaced in the first embodiment. (A) And (B) is the schematic which shows an example of the screen displayed on the operation panel in Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a main flow of the printer according to the first embodiment. 3 is a flowchart showing a deviation rate calculation process in the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating toner save flag determination processing according to the first embodiment. 4 is a graph illustrating a relationship between a remaining amount of toner, a cumulative value of the number of printed sheets, and an expected number of printed sheets with respect to the remaining amount of toner in Embodiment 1. 6 is a table showing a relationship among a remaining amount of toner, an expected number of printed sheets with respect to the remaining amount of toner, a cumulative value of the number of printed sheets, a total expected number of printed sheets, a deviation rate, and a toner save flag in the first embodiment. . FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a printer according to a second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a toner replacement management unit according to a second embodiment. 9 is a flowchart illustrating processing when a toner storage unit is replaced or toner is replenished in the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a PC in a third embodiment. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a print job in Embodiment 3. FIG. FIG. 10 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a print data analysis unit in a third embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a main flow of a printer according to a third embodiment.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
(Description of configuration)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a printer 100 that is an image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. As illustrated, the printer 100 includes a controller 101, a panel management unit 102, an operation panel 103, a print data reception unit 104, and a print management unit 110. The reference numerals in parentheses in FIG. 1 indicate the configuration in the third embodiment.

The controller 101 is a control unit that comprehensively controls processing in the printer 100.
The panel management unit 102 controls the operation panel 103 as an input / output unit, displays a necessary screen on the operation panel 103, and receives an instruction input from the user. For example, the panel management unit 102 receives the setting of the printer 100 input from the user and reflects the setting on the printer 100.
The operation panel 103 is a panel used when a user makes settings for the printer 100, and includes a display unit such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and an input unit such as a numeric key.
The print data receiving unit 104 is a data receiving unit that receives print data as image formation data indicating an image formed using a developer.

  The print management unit 110 is an image formation management unit that performs a series of processes for performing printing (image formation). The print management unit 110 includes an expected print number management unit 111, a print data analysis unit 112, a deviation rate management unit 113, a toner save management unit 114, a print image creation unit 115, a print execution unit 116, and a post-printing And a processing unit 117.

  The expected number-of-prints management unit 111 prints the expected number of printed sheets (expected number of sheets) that must be printed with the remaining amount of toner that is a consumable item in order to print the number of printed sheets desired by the user (number of formed images). An expected image formation number management unit that calculates a total expected print number (total expected image formation number) that is the number of prints desired by the user. As shown in FIG. 2, the expected print number management unit 111 includes an expected print number calculation unit 111a, a total expected print number storage unit 111b, an expected toner total dot number calculation unit 111c, and an expected toner total dot number. A storage unit 111d.

（１）式を用いることで、期待印刷枚数は、トナー残量が減少するにつれて増加し、かつ、トナー残量が「０」となった場合に、トータル期待印刷枚数と一致する。 The expected number-of-print-sheets calculation unit 111a is an expected image formation number calculation unit that calculates an expected number of printed sheets that must be printed with the remaining amount of toner in order to print a desired number of printed sheets. . For example, the expected number of printed sheets calculation unit 111a calculates the expected number of printed sheets using the following equation (1).

By using the expression (1), the expected number of printed sheets increases as the remaining amount of toner decreases, and when the remaining amount of toner becomes “0”, it matches the total expected number of printed sheets.

Here, the remaining amount of toner is a value obtained by subtracting the used toner amount from the total toner amount. In this embodiment, a dot count value obtained by subtracting the number of dots on which image formation has been performed from the total number of dots that can be formed with the total amount of toner is used as the remaining amount of toner. In general, a new toner indicates the number of printable sheets when printing is performed by a normal printing method. In printer 100 according to the present embodiment, the total amount of toner when new toner is filled by replacing toner storage unit 116a (see FIG. 7) as a developer storage unit or by replenishing toner storage unit 116a with toner. Is an amount that can be printed up to 10,000 sheets when printing on A4 size paper with a resolution of 600 dpi and a print duty value of 5%.
The print duty is a value indicating the data amount of an image that is actually printed on the printable area of the paper. In general text printing, the print duty value is about 5%. In this case, the remaining amount of toner (dot count value) is calculated as follows.
The resolution of 600 dpi is 23.6 dots / mm when converted to dots / mm. Since the A4 size paper is 210 mm × 297 mm, when the printable area is the entire surface of the paper, it is about 5000 dots (≈210 × 23.6) for one line in the main scanning direction and about one line for the sub scanning direction. There are 7000 dots (≈297 × 23.6). Therefore, about 1.75 million dot count (≈5000 × 7000 × 0.005) of toner is consumed in single-sided printing of A4 size paper when the print duty value is 5%. For this reason, the initial value of the remaining amount of toner is about 17.5 billion dot counts (= 1.75 million dots × 10,000 sheets), and this value is the upper limit of 100% of the remaining amount of toner (dot count value) in the present embodiment. Treat as.
Further, as the total amount of toner, the expected total number of dots, which is the total number of dots capable of forming an image with the total amount of replenished or replaced toner, is used. Here, 17.5 billion dot count, which is the initial value of the remaining amount of toner, is used as the expected total toner dot count.

The total expected number of printed sheets storage unit 111b stores the total expected number of printed sheets that is the number of printed sheets desired by the user. In other words, the total expected number of printed sheets is the total number of media on which image formation is expected using the total amount of developer. In the present embodiment, the total expected number of prints is input by the user via the operation panel 103 and received by the panel management unit 102.
The expected toner total dot number calculation unit 111c is an expected developer total dot number calculation unit that calculates the expected toner total dot number (expected developer total dot number) used as the total toner amount. The expected total number of toner dots is the number of print dots expected when a new toner is filled by replacing the toner container 116a (see FIG. 7) or replenishing the toner container 116a. As described above, a 17.5 billion dot count is calculated.
The expected toner total dot number storage unit 111d is an expected developer total dot number storage unit that stores the expected toner total dot number calculated by the expected toner total dot number calculation unit 111c.

  The print data analysis unit 112 is an image formation data analysis unit that analyzes the print data, performs rasterization, and calculates and stores the number of dots necessary for printing. As shown in FIG. 3, the print data analysis unit 112 includes a rasterization processing unit 112a, a print dot number calculation unit 112b, and a print dot number storage unit 112c.

The rasterization processing unit 112a performs rasterization that edits and develops the image binary data of the print data, and generates image data. Note that the rasterization processing unit 112a performs re-rasterization when the print data already includes image data.
The print dot number calculation unit 112b is an image formation dot number calculation unit that calculates the number of print dots (number of image formation dots) that is the number of dots necessary for printing in the image data generated by the rasterization processing unit 112a. The print dot number is a value representing how much toner amount (dot count value) is used in the image data.
The print dot number storage unit 112c is an image formation dot number storage unit that stores the print dot number calculated by the print dot number calculation unit 112b.

  The deviation rate management unit 113 calculates a deviation rate, which is managed by the expected printing number management unit 111 and indicates the deviation rate between the expected number of printed sheets in the remaining amount of toner and the accumulated value of the number of printed sheets, and stores it. To do. As shown in FIG. 4, the deviation rate management unit 113 includes a deviation rate calculation unit 113a and a deviation rate storage unit 113b.

ずれ率算出部１１３ａで算出されるずれ率は、トナー残量における期待印刷枚数と比べて、印刷枚数の累積値が少ないほど大きな値となる。なお、印刷枚数は、印刷後処理部１１７で算出される。
ずれ率記憶部１１３ｂは、ずれ率算出部１１３ａで算出されたずれ率を記憶する。 The deviation rate calculation unit 113a calculates a deviation rate indicating a deviation ratio between the expected number of printed sheets and the accumulated value of the number of printed sheets in the remaining amount of toner. For example, the deviation rate calculation unit 113a calculates the deviation rate using the following equation (2).

The deviation rate calculated by the deviation rate calculation unit 113a is larger as the cumulative number of printed sheets is smaller than the expected number of printed sheets in the remaining amount of toner. Note that the number of printed sheets is calculated by the post-printing processing unit 117.
The deviation rate storage unit 113b stores the deviation rate calculated by the deviation rate calculation unit 113a.

  The toner save management unit 114 is a developer save management unit that manages toner save (developer save) according to the deviation rate managed by the deviation rate management unit 113. As shown in FIG. 5, the toner save management unit 114 includes a toner save determination unit 114a, a toner save flag storage unit 114b, and a toner save rate storage unit 114c.

The toner save determination unit 114 a is a developer save determination unit that determines whether or not to perform toner save based on the shift rate managed by the shift rate management unit 113. For example, the toner save determination unit 114a determines that the toner is to be saved when the deviation rate is 10% or more, which is the first value, and the toner save stored in the toner save flag storage unit 114b. The flag is set to “ON” to indicate that toner save is being performed. On the other hand, when the deviation rate becomes 0% or less, which is the second value, the toner save determination unit 114a determines that the toner save is not performed and the toner stored in the toner save flag storage unit 114b. The save flag is set to “OFF” to indicate that toner save is not being performed. Then, when the deviation rate is larger than 0% and smaller than 10%, the toner save determining unit 114a determines that the toner is to be saved when the toner save flag is “ON”, which is “OFF”. ", It is determined that toner save is not performed. Note that the first value and the second value are not limited to the above values, but it is desirable that the second value is smaller than the first value.
The toner save flag storage unit 114b is a developer save flag storage unit that stores a toner save flag (developer save flag) indicating whether or not toner save is being performed.
The toner save rate storage unit 114c is a developer save storage unit that stores a toner save rate (developer save rate) that is a value that determines how much toner is to be saved when performing toner save. In the present embodiment, the toner save rate is 10%.

  The print image creation unit 115 processes a print image (formation image) to be actually printed (image formation) from the image data generated by the print data analysis unit 112, and print image data (formation) indicating the print image A formation image creation unit for creating (image data). As shown in FIG. 6, the print image creation unit 115 includes a print dot number thinning processing unit 115a, a thinned print dot number storage unit 115b, and an image creation unit 115c.

When the toner save management unit 114 determines that the toner save is to be performed, the print dot number thinning processing unit 115a calculates the toner save from the print dot number stored in the print dot number storage unit 112c of the print data analysis unit 112. The number of image formation dots for calculating the number of thinned print dots (the number of thinned image formation dots) that is the number of dots obtained by thinning out the number of dots corresponding to the toner save rate stored in the toner save rate storage unit 114c of the management unit 114 A thinning processing unit. When toner save is not performed, the print dot number thinning processing unit 115a does not calculate the number of thinned print dots.
The thinned print dot number storage unit 115b is a thinned image formation dot number storage unit that stores the thinned print dot number calculated by the print dot number thinning processing unit 115a.

  The image creation unit 115c processes an actual print image from the image data generated by the print data analysis unit 112, and creates print image data indicating the print image. The print image data is data including information specifying at least a dot for attaching the developer to the medium. Here, if the toner save management unit 114 determines that the toner save is to be performed, the image creation unit 115c uses the thinned print dot number stored in the thinned print dot number storage unit 115b to generate image data. Print image data is created by thinning out the corresponding dots from the processed print image. Note that print image data created using the number of thinned print dots is also referred to as thinned print image data (thinned-formed image data). On the other hand, if the toner save management unit 114 determines that the toner save is not performed, the image creation unit 115c uses the number of print dots stored in the print dot number storage unit 112c of the print data analysis unit 112, and Create print image data.

  The print execution unit 116 is an image formation execution unit that forms an image by attaching a developer to the medium based on the print image data created by the print image creation unit 115. Here, the print execution unit 116 can save the use of the developer by forming an image based on the thinned print image data. FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram schematically illustrating the print execution unit 116 according to the first embodiment. The print execution unit 116 includes a toner storage unit 116a, an image forming unit 116b, a paper feed tray 116c, a paper feed roller 116d, a conveyance path 116e, a registration roller 116f, a conveyance belt 116g, and a fixing device 116h. Composed. The printer 100 is provided with an operation panel 103 that receives an operation input from a user.

The toner storage unit 116a stores toner that is a developer used for printing.
The image forming unit 116b generates a toner image based on the print image data and transfers it to a medium.
The paper feed tray 116c stores a printing medium.
The paper feed roller 116d is a roller that separates and conveys the media stored in the paper feed tray 116c one by one.
The transport path 116e is a path for transporting the medium.
The registration roller 116f is a roller that sends the conveyed medium to the conveyance belt 116g.
The conveyor belt 116g carries the conveyed medium and sends it to the image forming unit 116b and the fixing device 116h.
The fixing device 116h applies high heat and high pressure to the toner transferred to the medium by the image forming unit 116b to melt and fix the toner on the medium.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 1, the post-print processing unit 117 is an image formation post-processing unit that calculates the remaining amount of toner and the number of printed sheets and stores them. As shown in FIG. 8, the post-print processing unit 117 includes a toner remaining amount management unit 118 and a print number management unit 119.

The toner remaining amount management unit 118 is a developer remaining amount management unit that calculates the remaining amount of toner as a developer and stores it. As shown in FIG. 8, the remaining toner management unit 118 includes a remaining toner calculation unit 118a and a remaining toner storage unit 118b.
The toner remaining amount calculation unit 118a is a developer remaining amount calculation unit that calculates the remaining amount of toner. For example, the remaining toner amount calculation unit 118a calculates the remaining toner amount by subtracting the number of printed dots from the dot count value indicating the remaining toner amount (the number of dots that can be printed with the remaining toner amount). Here, the initial value of the remaining amount of toner is the number of dots that can be printed when the toner container 116a is replaced or when the toner container 116a is replenished with toner, as described above. About 17.5 billion dot count. The toner remaining amount calculation unit 118a subtracts the thinned print dot number stored in the thinned print dot number storage unit 115b from the toner remaining amount when the toner save is performed. On the other hand, the toner remaining amount calculation unit 118a subtracts the print dot number stored in the print dot number storage unit 112c of the print data analysis unit 112 from the toner remaining amount when the toner save is not performed.
The remaining toner storage unit 118b is a remaining developer storage unit that stores the remaining toner calculated by the remaining toner calculation unit 118a.

  The print number management unit 119 is an image formation number management unit that calculates the print number (image formation number) and stores the accumulated value. As shown in FIG. 8, the print number management unit 119 includes a conversion processing unit 119a, a conversion table storage unit 119b, a print number addition unit 119c, and a print number storage unit 119d.

  The conversion processing unit 119a converts the number of sheets (medium) printed by the print execution unit 116 into the number of sheets (medium) having a predetermined size, and the number of sheets printed by the print execution unit 116. Is calculated. For example, the conversion processing unit 119a converts the number of sheets (medium) printed by the print execution unit 116 from the conversion table storage unit 119b into the number of sheets (medium) having a predetermined size. A table is acquired and converted using this conversion table.

The conversion table storage unit 119b stores a conversion table.
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a conversion table. As shown in FIG. 9, the conversion table 105 includes a paper size column 105a and a number column 105b at the time of A4 conversion.
The paper size column 105a stores the sizes of various papers on which the print execution unit 116 performs printing.
The number of sheets field 105b at the time of A4 conversion indicates a value (number of sheets) indicating how many sheets are converted into A4 sheets when one sheet size specified in the sheet size field 105a is printed. Remember.
By using the conversion table 105 as described above, the conversion processing unit 119a can calculate by converting the number of sheets printed by the print execution unit 116 into A4 size sheets.

Returning to the description of FIG. 1, the printed sheet number adding unit 119c adds the number of sheets calculated by the conversion processing unit 119a to the number of printed sheets stored in the printed sheet number storing unit 119d, thereby calculating the cumulative value of the number of printed sheets. This is an image forming number adding unit.
The print number storage unit 119d is an image formation number storage unit that stores the cumulative value of the print number calculated by the print number addition unit 119c.

(Description of operation)
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a process for setting the total expected number of printed sheets at the time of toner replacement.
When the operation panel 103 receives an operation for entering the management menu from the user (administrator), the panel management unit 102 displays the administrator menu screen 106 as shown in FIG. (S10).
The administrator menu screen 106 displays a menu for setting up the printer 100 and the user selects a menu for setting up from the displayed menu. Here, the administrator menu screen 106 includes a total expected printing number setting menu 106a by toner replacement necessary for operating (printing) the printer 100 with the toner consumption expected by the user.

Next, when the operation panel 103 receives an operation from the user on the administrator menu screen 106 to enter a menu for setting the total expected number of prints by toner replacement, the panel management unit 102 is shown in FIG. The total expected number-of-printing-numbers setting screen 107 by toner replacement is displayed on the operation panel 103 (S11).
A total expected print number setting screen 107 by toner replacement is a screen for setting (saving) the total expected print number desired by the user in the printer 100. The total expected number of prints setting screen 107 by toner replacement includes a value input area 107a, an OK button 107b that is an OK input area, and a Cancel button 107c that is a Cancel input area.
The value input area 107a is an area where the operation panel 103 receives an input of the total expected number of printed sheets from the user.
The OK button 107b is an area in which the operation panel 103 receives an instruction input for determining the total expected number of prints input from the user to the value input area 107a. When the OK button 107 b is input, the panel management unit 102 stores the value of the total expected print number input in the value input area 107 a in the total expected print number storage unit 111 b of the expected print number management unit 111.
The Cancel button 107c is an area where the operation panel 103 receives an instruction input for canceling the total expected number of prints input from the user to the value input area 107a. For example, when the Cancel button 107c is pressed, the panel management unit 102 deletes the value of the total expected number of prints input in the value input area 107a.

  When the operation panel 103 receives an input of the total expected number of printed sheets from the user and an OK button 107b on the total expected number of printed sheets setting screen 107 by toner replacement, the panel management unit 102 inputs The value is stored in the total expected number of printed sheets storage unit 111b (S12).

Next, the expected total toner dot number calculation unit 111c of the expected print number management unit 111 calculates the expected total toner dot number (S13). Then, the expected total toner dot number calculation unit 111 c sends the calculated expected total toner dot number to the remaining toner management unit 118.
The remaining toner amount management unit 118 resets the remaining toner amount stored in the remaining toner amount storage unit 118b with the total number of expected toner dots sent (S14). In the present embodiment, the initial value of the remaining amount of toner is 17.5 billion dots.

  Further, in response to an instruction from the expected print number management unit 111, the print number management unit 119 resets the print number stored in the print number storage unit 119d to “0” (S15).

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a main flow of the printer 100 according to the first embodiment.

  The controller 101 of the printer 100 constantly monitors reception of print data (S20). Then, the controller determines whether or not print data has been received (S20). If the print data has been received (step S21: Yes), the process proceeds to step S22. If the print data has not been received (step S21: No), the process returns to step S20.

  In step S <b> 22, the print data is given from the print data receiving unit 104 to the print data analyzing unit 112. The rasterization processing unit 112a performs rasterization based on the print data to generate image data. Further, the print dot number calculation unit 112b calculates the number of print dots of the generated image data. The calculated print dot number is stored in the print dot number storage unit 112c.

  Next, the deviation rate management unit 113 calculates a deviation rate from the expected number of printed sheets with respect to the remaining amount of toner and the cumulative value of the number of printed sheets stored in the number of printed sheets storage unit 119d of the post-printing processing unit 117 (S23). ). This process will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  The toner save management unit 114 executes toner save flag determination processing for determining whether or not the toner save flag needs to be changed using the deviation rate calculated in step S23 (S24). This process will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  Then, the toner save determination unit 114a of the toner save management unit 114 determines whether or not to perform toner save (S25). For example, the toner save determination unit 114a refers to the toner save flag stored in the toner save flag storage unit 114b, determines that the toner save is not performed when the toner save flag is “OFF”, and If it is “ON”, it is determined that toner save is to be performed. If the toner save flag is “OFF”, the process proceeds to step S26. If the toner save flag is “ON”, the process proceeds to step S27.

  In step S <b> 26, the image creation unit 115 c of the print image creation unit 115 performs the rasterization process of the print data analysis unit 112 without changing the number of print dots stored in the print dot number storage unit 112 c of the print data analysis unit 112. Print image data is created from the image data generated by the unit 112a. The number of dots in the print image data created here matches the number of print dots that have not been thinned out. Then, the process proceeds to step S28.

  In step S27, the print dot number reduction processing unit 115a stores the print dot number stored in the print dot number storage unit 112c of the print data analysis unit 112 in the toner save rate storage unit 114c of the toner save management unit 114. The number of thinned print dots, which is the number of dots obtained by thinning the number of dots corresponding to the toner save rate, is calculated and stored in the thinned print dot number storage unit 115b. Then, the image creation unit 115c of the print image creation unit 115 uses the thinned print dot number stored in the thinned print dot number storage unit 115b, and is generated by the rasterization processing unit 112a of the print data analysis unit 112. Print image data is created from the image data. The number of dots of the print image data created here matches the number of thinned print dots. Then, the process proceeds to step S28.

  In step S28, the print execution unit 116 performs printing on the medium based on the print image data generated in step S26 or S27.

  Next, the toner remaining amount calculation unit 118a of the post-print processing unit 117 updates the toner remaining amount by subtracting the number of print dots when printing is performed from the toner remaining amount stored in the toner remaining amount storage unit 118b. (S29). The print dot number when printing is the print dot number stored in the print dot number storage unit 112c of the print data analysis unit 112 when the print image data is generated in step S26, and is printed in step S27. When image data is generated, the number of thinned print dots stored in the thinned print dot number storage unit 115b.

Next, the conversion processing unit 119a of the print number management unit 119 converts the number of sheets printed by the print execution unit 116 into the number of sheets of A4 with reference to the conversion table 105 stored in the conversion table storage unit 119b. Convert. Then, the conversion processing unit 119a of the print number management unit 119 updates the cumulative value of the number of sheets by adding the converted number of sheets to the accumulated value of the number of sheets stored in the print number storage unit 119d. (S30).
Then, the controller 101 determines whether or not the toner life is reached (S31). When the toner life is reached (step S31: Yes), the process proceeds to step S32 and the toner life is not reached. In the case (step S31: No), the process returns to step S20.

  In step S32, the controller 101 puts the printer 100 into a toner replacement waiting state. For example, the controller 101 displays a replacement warning such as “Replace toner” on the operation panel 103 via the panel management unit 102. Then, when the toner is replaced, the controller 101 ends this flow.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the deviation rate calculation processing.
First, the expected print number calculation unit 111a of the expected print number management unit 111 acquires the remaining toner amount (dot count value) stored in the remaining toner storage unit 118b of the post-print processing unit 117 (S40). The expected print number calculation unit 111a acquires the total expected print number from the total expected print number storage unit 111b, and further acquires the expected total toner dot number as the total toner amount from the expected toner total dot number storage unit 111d.

  Next, the expected number-of-print-sheets calculation unit 111a uses the acquired toner remaining amount, total expected number of printed sheets, and total toner amount (expected toner total number of dots) to calculate the expected number of printed sheets with respect to the remaining amount of toner according to the above equation (1). Is calculated (S41).

  Next, the deviation rate calculation unit 113a of the deviation rate management unit 113 acquires the cumulative value of the number of printed sheets stored in the printed number storage unit 119d of the post-printing processing unit 117 (S42).

  Then, the deviation rate calculation unit 113a uses the expected number of prints for the remaining amount of toner calculated in step S41 and the cumulative value of the number of prints acquired in step S42 to calculate the deviation rate according to the above equation (2). Is calculated (S43).

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing toner save flag determination processing.
The toner save determination unit 114a of the toner save management unit 114 determines the deviation rate calculated by the deviation rate management unit 113 (S50). When the deviation rate is 0% or less, the process proceeds to step S51. When the deviation rate is 10% or more, the process proceeds to step S52, and the deviation rate is greater than 0% and smaller than 10%. The flow ends.

In step S51, the toner save determination unit 114a sets the toner save flag to “OFF” because it is necessary to end toner save and switch to normal printing.
In step S52, the toner save determination unit 114a sets the toner save flag to “ON” because it is necessary to start toner save.

FIG. 15 is a graph showing a relationship between the remaining amount of toner, the cumulative value of the number of printed sheets, and the expected number of printed sheets with respect to the remaining amount of toner. The vertical axis in FIG. 15 is the toner remaining amount (todd count value), and the horizontal axis is the cumulative value of the number of printed sheets and the expected number of printed sheets with respect to the remaining amount of toner. Here, in FIG. 15, the solid line is an actual print line indicating the accumulated value of the actual number of printed sheets converted into A4, and the broken line is an expected print line indicating the expected number of printed sheets with respect to the remaining amount of toner. In FIG. 15, it is assumed that the total expected number of prints set by the user is 10,000.
As shown in FIG. 15, when the remaining amount of toner is 50% (8.75 billion dots), the expected number of prints with respect to the remaining amount of toner is 5,000 according to the above equation (1). Here, if the cumulative value of the number of printed sheets is 4,500, the deviation rate between them is 10%. For this reason, toner saving is started when the remaining amount of toner reaches 50%.
Further, when the remaining amount of toner is 40% (7.88 billion dots), the expected number of printed sheets with respect to the remaining amount of toner is 6,000 sheets according to the above equation (1). Here, if the cumulative value of the number of printed sheets is 6,000, the deviation rate between them is 0%. For this reason, the toner save ends when the remaining amount of toner reaches 40%.
Further, when the remaining amount of toner is 20% (39.4 billion dots), the expected number of prints with respect to the remaining amount of toner is 8,000 with the above equation (1). Here, assuming that the cumulative value of the number of printed sheets is 7,200, the deviation rate between them is 10%, and toner saving is started again.

FIG. 16 is a table showing the relationship between the remaining amount of toner, the expected number of printed sheets for the remaining amount of toner, the cumulative value of the number of printed sheets, the total expected number of printed sheets, the deviation rate, and the toner save flag.
As shown in FIG. 16, the deviation rate, which was 0% at the time of replacement (when the remaining amount of toner is 100%), increases every time printing is performed and becomes 10% when the remaining amount of toner is 50%. The save flag is turned “ON”. At this time, toner saving is started, and toner saving continues until the remaining amount of toner is 40% at which the deviation rate becomes 0%. When the deviation rate becomes 0% when the remaining amount of toner is 40%, the toner save flag is set to “OFF”. Then, the deviation rate increases by continuing printing, and becomes 10% again when the remaining amount of toner is 20%. At this time, toner save is started again, and the toner save flag is set to “ON”.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, printing is performed by controlling toner save from the time of toner replacement, so that the number of uses expected by the user is satisfied while maintaining the print quality. It is possible to prevent the consumables from being used up.

  Even in this embodiment, there is a possibility that the printed matter becomes so thin that it becomes difficult to read, or the quality may not be suitable for a formal document. The user may set an appropriate toner save rate. For example, in the present embodiment, the toner save rate is fixed at 10%, but a value different from 10% may be set.

  Further, the toner save rate may be divided into categories such as “HIGH” and “LOW”, and the toner save rate may be dynamically switched according to the deviation rate.

  The total toner amount (initial value of the remaining amount of toner) in the present embodiment is calculated as a value when printing is performed on a paper having a resolution of 600 dpi, a print duty value of 5%, and A4 size. At least one of these values is calculated. The value may be changed. The total amount of toner may be a fixed value (1K, 10K, etc.).

  Further, as described above, the upper limit of the deviation rate is 10%, but this value may be set freely by the user or the like in consideration of the usage status and management cost of the printer 100.

（３）式を用いることで期待印刷枚数は、トナー使用量が増加するにつれて増加し、かつ、トナー使用量がトナー総量と一致した場合に、トータル期待印刷枚数と一致する。
このような場合には、印刷後処理部１１７は、トナー残量管理部１１８の代わりに、トナー使用量を初期値「０」から累積的に加算していくトナー使用量管理部（現像剤使用量管理部）を備えればよい。トナー使用量管理部は、トナーセーブが行われなかった場合には印刷ドット数を加算し、トナーセーブが行われた場合には間引き済み印刷ドット数を、トナー使用量に加算していけばよい。この場合、トナー残量算出部１１８ａの代わりにトナー使用量算出部（現像剤使用量算出部）、トナー残量記憶部１１８ｂの代わりにトナー使用量記憶部がトナー使用量管理部に備えられていればよい。
トナー残量管理部１１８及びトナー使用量管理部は、現像剤の残量であるトナー残量又は現像剤の使用量であるトナー使用量を示すトナー量（現像剤量）を算出して、それを記憶するトナー量管理部（現像剤量管理部）と言い換えることができる。
そして、トナー量がトナー使用量を示す場合には、上述したトナー残量に対する期待印刷枚数は、トナー使用量に対する期待印刷枚数となる。さらに、トナー残量に対する期待印刷枚数及びトナー使用量に対する期待印刷枚数は、トナー量に対する期待印刷枚数となる。 In the expression (1) described above, the value obtained by dividing the remaining toner amount by the total expected toner amount is subtracted from “1”. Instead of such an expression (1), the following expression (3) May be used to calculate the expected number of printed sheets.

By using equation (3), the expected number of printed sheets increases as the amount of toner used increases, and when the amount of used toner matches the total amount of toner, it matches the total expected number of printed sheets.
In such a case, the post-print processing unit 117 replaces the remaining toner amount management unit 118 with a toner usage amount management unit (developer usage) that cumulatively adds the toner usage amount from the initial value “0”. A volume management unit). The toner usage amount management unit may add the number of print dots when the toner save is not performed, and add the thinned print dot number to the toner usage amount when the toner save is performed. . In this case, the toner usage amount management unit includes a toner usage amount calculation unit (developer usage amount calculation unit) instead of the toner remaining amount calculation unit 118a, and a toner usage amount storage unit instead of the toner remaining amount storage unit 118b. Just do it.
The toner remaining amount management unit 118 and the toner usage amount management unit calculate a toner amount (developer amount) indicating a toner remaining amount that is a remaining amount of developer or a toner usage amount that is a usage amount of the developer. In other words, a toner amount management unit (developer amount management unit).
When the amount of toner indicates the amount of toner used, the expected number of printed sheets for the remaining amount of toner is the expected number of printed sheets for the amount of toner used. Further, the expected number of printed sheets for the remaining amount of toner and the expected number of printed sheets for the toner usage amount are the expected number of printed sheets for the toner amount.

  In the present embodiment, the number of printed sheets is calculated by converting to A4, but it may be converted to a paper size other than A4. Further, the number of printed sheets may be totaled for each paper size unit, and converted to a specific paper size when necessary.

  In the present embodiment, the rasterization processing unit 112a in the printer 100 creates image data by editing and developing print data. However, image data that has already been generated or processed externally may be used. .

Embodiment 2. FIG.
(Description of configuration)
FIG. 17 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a printer 200 that is an image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment. As illustrated, the printer 200 includes a controller 101, a panel management unit 102, an operation panel 103, a print data reception unit 104, and a print management unit 210. The printer 200 according to the second embodiment is different from the printer 100 according to the first embodiment in a print management unit 210.

  The print management unit 210 includes an expected print number management unit 111, a print data analysis unit 112, a deviation rate management unit 113, a toner save management unit 114, a print image creation unit 115, a print execution unit 116, and a post-printing A processing unit 117 and a toner replacement management unit 218 are provided. The print management unit 210 according to the second embodiment is different from the print management unit 110 according to the first embodiment in that it further includes a toner replacement management unit 218.

  The toner replacement management unit 218 is a developer replacement management unit that manages replacement of toner as a developer. As shown in FIG. 18, the toner replacement management unit 218 includes a toner replacement detection unit 218a, a toner replacement number addition unit 218b, a toner replacement number storage unit 218c, a total print number addition unit 218d, and a total print. A sheet number storage unit 218e, a new total expected print number calculation unit 218f, a new total expected print number storage unit 218g, and a total expected print number reset unit 218g are provided.

The toner replacement detection unit 218a is a developer replacement detection unit that detects that the toner storage unit 116a illustrated in FIG. 7 has been replaced or that the toner storage unit 116a has been replenished with toner.
The toner replacement number adding unit 218b is a developer replacement number adding unit that calculates a toner replacement number (developer replacement number) indicating the number of times the toner container 116a has been replaced or replenished with toner. For example, the toner replacement number adding unit 218b calculates the toner replacement number by setting the initial value of the toner replacement number to “0” and counting up each time the toner storage unit 116a is replaced or replenished with toner.
The toner replacement number storage unit 218c is a developer replacement number storage unit that stores the toner replacement number calculated by the toner replacement number addition unit 218b.

The total number of printed sheets adding unit 218d acquires the accumulated value of the number of printed sheets stored in the number of printed sheets storing unit 119d of the post-printing processing unit 117 every time the toner storage unit 116a is replaced or replenished with toner. This is a cumulative image formation number adding unit that adds to the total number of printed sheets stored in the storage unit 218e.
The total number of printed sheets storage unit 218e stores a total number of printed sheets (total number of formed images) that is a total value of the number of printed sheets printed by the printer 200 until the toner container 116a is replaced or replenished with toner. This is a forming number storage unit. The initial value of the total number of printed sheets is “0”, and the total number of printed sheets is added by the total number of printed sheets adding unit 218d every time the toner storage unit 116a is replaced or the toner is replenished.

The new total expected print number calculation unit 218f uses the toner replacement number stored in the toner replacement number storage unit 218c and the total print number stored in the total print number storage unit 218e to replace the toner (developer). (Replacement) A new total expected image formation number calculation unit for calculating the number of prints per one time (image formation number). For example, the new total expected print number calculation unit 218f calculates the number of prints per toner replacement by dividing the total number of prints by the number of toner replacements. The number of printed sheets per toner exchange is also referred to as a new total expected number of printed sheets.
The new total expected print number storage unit 218g is a new total description image formation number storage unit that stores the number of prints per toner replacement calculated by the new total expected print number calculation unit 218f.
The total expected print number reset unit 218h replaces the total expected print number stored in the total expected print number storage unit 111b of the expected print number management unit 111 with the toner replacement 1 stored in the new total expected print number storage unit 218g. This is a total expected image formation number reset unit that updates the total expected number of printed sheets by replacing it with the number of times printed (new total expected number of printed sheets).

(Description of operation)
FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating processing when the toner container 116a is replaced or toner is replenished in the second embodiment.

  First, when the toner replacement detection unit 218a detects that the toner storage unit 116a has been replaced or the toner storage unit 116a has been replenished with toner, the toner replacement detection unit 218a notifies the toner replacement number addition unit 218b of toner replacement (S60).

  Next, in response to the toner replacement notification, the toner replacement number adding unit 218b adds “1” to the toner replacement number stored in the toner replacement number storage unit 218c (S61).

  Next, the total number of printed sheets adding unit 218d acquires the accumulated value of the number of printed sheets stored in the number of printed sheets storage unit 119d of the post-printing processing unit 117, and the total number of printed sheets stored in the total number of printed sheet storage unit 218e. It adds to the number of sheets (S62).

  Next, the new total expected print number calculation unit 218f uses the toner replacement number stored in the toner replacement number storage unit 218c and the total print number stored in the total print number storage unit 218e to replace the toner. The number of printed sheets per time is calculated (S63). For example, when the number of toner replacements is “3” and the total number of printed sheets is “30,000”, the number of printed sheets per toner replacement is “10,000 / time”.

  Next, the total expected print number reset unit 218h stores the total expected print number stored in the total expected print number storage unit 111b of the expected print number management unit 111 in the new total expected print number storage unit 218g. The total expected number of printed sheets is updated by replacing with the new total expected number of printed sheets (S64).

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, even in an environment where there is no user (administrator) of the printer 200 and it is difficult to set the total expected number of prints, this is exceeded based on the past toner consumption results. This makes it possible to extend the life of consumables.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
(Description of configuration)
FIG. 20 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the PC 330 as the information processing apparatus in the third embodiment. As illustrated, the PC 330 includes a control unit 331, a storage unit 332, an input unit 333, and an interface unit (hereinafter referred to as I / F unit) 334.

  The control unit 331 controls processing in the PC 330. In the present embodiment, the control unit 331 includes the printer driver of the printer 300, creates print data to be printed, and inputs a print quality emphasis setting from the user via the input unit 333. receive. The print quality emphasis setting is a setting that indicates whether or not toner save is permitted. For example, when “ON”, toner save is permitted, and when “OFF”, toner save is prohibited. Show. The user can cause the printer 300 to perform high-quality printing by setting the print quality emphasis setting to “OFF” and prohibiting toner save regardless of the deviation rate. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 21, the control unit 331 generates a print job 340 including the input print quality emphasis setting 340a and the created print data 340b. In addition, the control unit 331 transmits the generated print job 340 to the printer 300 via the I / F unit 334.

The storage unit 332 stores information necessary for processing by the PC 330. For example, in the present embodiment, the storage unit 332 stores image data to be printed.
The input unit 333 receives an instruction input from the user. For example, in the present embodiment, the input unit 333 receives an input of “ON” or “OFF” of the print quality emphasis setting.
The I / F unit 334 is an interface for connecting to the printer 300.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the printer 300 according to the third embodiment includes a controller 101, a panel management unit 102, an operation panel 103, a print data reception unit 104, and a print management unit 310.
Here, the print data receiving unit 104 receives the print job 340 from the PC 330.

  The print management unit 310 according to the third embodiment includes an expected print number management unit 111, a print data analysis unit 312, a deviation rate management unit 113, a toner save management unit 114, a print image creation unit 115, and a print execution unit. 116 and a post-print processing unit 117. The print management unit 310 in the third embodiment is different from the print management unit 110 in the first embodiment in the print data analysis unit 312.

  As shown in FIG. 22, the print data analysis unit 312 includes a rasterization processing unit 112a, a print dot number calculation unit 112b, a print dot number storage unit 112c, and a print quality setting as an image formation quality setting determination unit. A determination unit 312d. The print data analysis unit 312 in the third embodiment is different from the print data analysis unit 112 in the first embodiment in that it includes a print quality setting determination unit 312d.

  The print quality setting determination unit 312d acquires the print quality emphasis setting 340a of the print job 340 received by the print data reception unit 104. When the print quality emphasis setting 340a is “ON”, the print quality setting determination unit 312d determines that toner save is not performed even if the toner save flag is “ON”.

(Description of operation)
FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating a main flow of the printer 300 according to the third embodiment. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 23, steps that perform the same processing as in the flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, the processing from step S20 to S25 is the same as the flowchart shown in FIG. However, if the toner save flag is “ON” in step S25, the process proceeds to step S70.

In step S70, the print quality setting determination unit 312d acquires the print quality emphasis setting 340a of the print job 340 received by the print data reception unit 104, and checks the value. If the value is “OFF”, the process proceeds to step S27. If the value is “ON”, the process proceeds to step S26.
In other words, when the print quality emphasis setting 340 a is “ON”, the image creation unit 115 c of the print image creation unit 115 sets the print dot number stored in the print dot number storage unit 112 c of the print data analysis unit 112. Without change, print image data is created from the image data generated by the rasterization processing unit 112a of the print data analysis unit 112 (S26).
On the other hand, when the print quality emphasis setting 340a is “OFF”, the image creation unit 115c of the print image creation unit 115 uses the thinned print dot number stored in the thinned print dot number storage unit 115b. Print image data is created from the image data generated by the rasterization processing unit 112a of the print data analysis unit 112 (S27).

  In addition, about the process from step S26 to S32, it is the same as that of the flowchart shown in FIG.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, even when the toner is being saved, if the user desires, in other words, if the print data includes a predetermined instruction, the toner save is not performed. In addition, high quality printing can be performed.

  Here, the print quality emphasis setting 340a is a setting (parameter) associated with the print job 340. However, the print quality emphasis setting 340a may be configured to determine the print quality for each page by being associated with each page of the print data. Good.

  The first to third embodiments described above have been described by taking a printer as an example of an image forming apparatus. However, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a multifunction peripheral, a facsimile machine, other printing apparatuses using an inkjet, and the like. Any device that manages and uses consumables may be used.

  In the first to third embodiments described above, as shown in steps S20 and S21 of FIG. 12 or FIG. 23, toner save is performed every time print data is acquired, in other words, every print job. Judgment whether or not. However, the present invention is not limited to such an example. For example, it may be determined whether or not to perform toner save when a predetermined number of sheets have been printed, or when a predetermined time has elapsed.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Printer, 101 Controller, 102 Panel management part, 104 Print data receiving part, 110 Print management part, 111 Expected printing number management part, 111a Expected printing number calculation part, 111b Total expected printing number storage part, 111c Expected total toner dot number Calculation unit, 111d expected toner total dot number storage unit, 112 print data analysis unit, 112a rasterization processing unit, 112b print dot number calculation unit, 112c print dot number storage unit, 113 deviation rate management unit, 113a deviation rate calculation unit, 113b Shift rate storage unit, 114 toner save management unit, 114a toner save determination unit, 114b toner save flag storage unit, 114c toner save rate storage unit, 115 print image creation unit, 115a print dot number reduction processing unit, 115b Thinned print dot number storage unit, 115c Image creation unit, 116 print execution unit, 117 post-print processing unit, 118 toner remaining amount management unit, 118a toner remaining amount calculation unit, 118b toner remaining amount storage unit, 119 print number management 119a conversion processing unit, 119b conversion table storage unit, 119c print number addition unit, 119d print number storage unit.

Claims (10)

An image forming execution unit that forms an image on a medium using a developer;
A developer amount management unit for calculating the remaining amount of the developer;
An image formation number management unit that calculates a cumulative value of the number of image formations that is the number of media on which the image is formed by the image formation execution unit;
An input unit that receives an input of a total expected image forming number that is the total number of the media on which the image is expected to be formed, using the total amount of the developer;
When the developer remaining amount calculated by the developer amount managing unit increases as the developer remaining amount decreases, and the developer remaining amount calculated by the developer amount managing unit becomes “0”. , to match the total expected number of image formation, the remaining amount of the developer, the expected image formation amount management unit that calculates an expected number of image formation is the number of the medium on which the image must be formed ,
A deviation rate management unit that calculates a deviation rate between the expected image formation number calculated by the expected image formation number management unit and the cumulative value of the image formation number calculated by the image formation number management unit. ,
The image forming execution unit saves the use of the developer when the deviation rate calculated by the deviation rate management unit is equal to or more than a predetermined first value. apparatus. An image forming execution unit that forms an image on a medium using a developer;
A developer amount management unit for calculating the amount of pre-Symbol developer,
An image formation number management unit that calculates a cumulative value of the number of image formations that is the number of media on which the image is formed by the image formation execution unit;
An input unit that receives an input of a total expected image forming number that is the total number of the media on which the image is expected to be formed, using the total amount of the developer;
The developer usage amount calculated by the developer amount management unit increases as the developer usage amount increases, and the developer usage amount calculated by the developer amount management unit becomes the total amount of the developer. Sometimes, an expected image forming number management that calculates an expected image forming number, which is the number of the media on which the image has to be formed, in the usage amount of the developer so as to coincide with the total expected image forming number And
A deviation rate management unit that calculates a deviation rate between the expected image formation number calculated by the expected image formation number management unit and the cumulative value of the image formation number calculated by the image formation number management unit. ,
The image forming execution unit saves the use of the developer when the deviation rate calculated by the deviation rate management unit is equal to or more than a predetermined first value. apparatus. The image forming execution unit, until said shift rate management section shift rate calculated by becomes less than the second predetermined value, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that to continue the saving Image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the second value is smaller than the first value. It is determined whether the developer save is performed by determining whether the shift rate calculated by the shift rate management unit is equal to or higher than the first value or lower than the second value. A developer save management unit,
The developer save management unit
When the deviation rate calculated by the deviation rate management unit is equal to or greater than the first value, it is determined to perform the developer saving;
If it is determined to save the developer, the determination to save the developer is continued until the deviation rate calculated by the deviation rate management unit is equal to or less than the second value.
While continuing the determination to save the developer, if the deviation rate calculated by the deviation rate management unit is less than or equal to the second value, it is determined not to save the developer,
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image forming execution unit performs the saving when the developer saving management unit determines to perform the developer saving. Further comprising a formation image creation unit for creating formation image data indicating dots for attaching the developer to the medium;
The image formation execution unit is configured to adhere the developer to the medium based on the formation image data created by the formation image creation unit,
When the deviation rate calculated by the deviation rate management unit is equal to or greater than the first value, the formation image creation unit creates thinned formation image data obtained by thinning out the dots to which the developer is attached. The image forming execution unit performs the saving by attaching the developer to the medium based on the thinned image forming data. Image forming apparatus. The image forming execution unit does not perform the saving when the image forming data for specifying the image to be formed using the developer includes a predetermined instruction. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 . A developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer;
A developer replacement detection unit for detecting the replacement of the developer storage unit or the replenishment of the developer in the developer storage unit;
Based on the cumulative value of the number of image formations until the replacement or replenishment is detected by the developer replacement detection unit, a new total expected image formation number is calculated, and the total expected image formation number is calculated as the new total number. expected by replacing in the number of image formation, the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 7, further comprising a, a developer exchanging management unit for updating the total expected number of formed images. An image forming execution process of forming an image on a medium using a developer;
A developer amount management process of calculating the remaining amount of the developer,
An image formation number management process for calculating a cumulative value of the number of image formations that is the number of the media on which the image is formed in the image formation execution process;
An input process for receiving an input of a total expected image forming number that is the total number of the media on which the image is expected to be formed, using the total amount of the developer;
When the developer remaining amount calculated in the developer amount management process increases as the developer remaining amount decreases, and the developer remaining amount calculated in the developer amount management process becomes “0” , to match the total expected number of image formation, the remaining amount of the developer, the expected image formation amount management process of calculating the expected number of image formation is the number of the medium on which the image must be formed ,
Comprising the expected number of image formation calculated by the expected image formation amount management process, and a deviation rate management step of calculating a deviation index between the accumulated value of the image formation amount management process number of image formation calculated in ,
The image forming execution process saves use of the developer when the deviation rate calculated in the deviation rate management process is equal to or more than a predetermined first value. Method. An image forming execution process of forming an image on a medium using a developer;
A developer amount management process for calculating the usage amount of the developer;
An image formation number management process for calculating a cumulative value of the number of image formations that is the number of the media on which the image is formed in the image formation execution process;
An input process for receiving an input of a total expected image forming number that is the total number of the media on which the image is expected to be formed, using the total amount of the developer;
The developer usage amount calculated in the developer amount management step increases as the developer usage amount increases, and the developer usage amount calculated in the developer amount management step becomes the total amount of the developer. Sometimes, an expected image forming number management that calculates an expected image forming number, which is the number of the media on which the image has to be formed, in the usage amount of the developer so as to coincide with the total expected image forming number Process,
A deviation rate management step of calculating a deviation rate between the expected image formation number calculated in the expected image formation number management step and the cumulative value of the image formation number calculated in the image formation number management step. ,
The image forming execution process saves the use of the developer when the deviation rate calculated in the deviation rate management process is equal to or more than a predetermined first value.
An image forming method.

Images